We held an exchange event to discuss multicultural coexistence, centered around the traditional Turkish sweet "Aşle".

International exchange and study abroad
College of Global Communication
university

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On Thursday, June 25th, a networking Events event titled "Surrounding Ashle (Noah's Pudding)" was organized by Elen Muzafel, a Turkish international student (2nd year College of Global Communication), in the small chapel in the basement of Jingguandang Chapel, with sponsorship from the Christian Center. On the day, eight students and five faculty members participated, enjoying traditional Turkish sweets while deepening their understanding of diverse cultures and values.

Ashley, a symbol of "new beginnings" and "sharing."

Ashle is a traditional Turkish dessert also known as "Noah's pudding." In the well-known flood story, it is said that after Noah's Ark reached land, the survivors gathered the wheat, beans, dried fruits, and nuts left on the ark to create this dish. In Turkey, it is customary to eat Ashle 10 days after the Islamic New Year, and it is cherished as a special dish symbolizing "new beginnings" and "the joy of sharing." Just as different ingredients harmonize in one pot to create a new flavor, Ashle embodies the wish that a rich harmony will be born when people from diverse backgrounds come together.

Recognizing and understanding our differences is the first step towards peace.

On the day of the event, Chifuchi Aiteki, President of the Japan International Cultural Scholarship Foundation (JICEF), also participated and said, "The world is becoming increasingly mixed. It is important to share the cultures of the world and acknowledge that 'differences are a fact.' Our differences do not divide us, but enrich us." In addition, Professor Toshiyoshi Tsuchihashi, Director of the Christian Center, spoke about the significance of cultural exchange, saying, "I believe that for us, who come from diverse backgrounds, to experience the cultures of different countries and deepen our understanding of each other is the first step towards peace."

Chifuchi Aiteki, Chairperson of the Japan International Cultural Foundation (JICEF)

"I especially wanted Japanese students to know this."

Ellen, the organizer, explained the theme of the event, saying, "I wanted to convey the idea that people from many different countries live together." "I thought that Ashley, which uses a variety of ingredients, could represent the idea of diverse people living together. I especially wanted Japanese students to know about it. Japan is an island nation, and living with people from different countries is different from meeting foreigners while traveling. I think it's important to experience various cultures and respect each other," she said.

Amidst increasing opportunities to feel division and conflict through social media and other means, the time spent conversing around Ashley provided a valuable opportunity to acknowledge each other's differences and reflect on multicultural coexistence. Our university will continue to promote international exchange and multicultural coexistence, while cherishing opportunities for students to be exposed to diverse cultures and values and to understand and respect one another.